TWTW: Kansas Continues Playing Badly, Losing To Mizzou 35-7

((HT: NBCActionnews.com/KSHB-TV))

Blaine Gabbert directed scoring drives on 15th-ranked Missouri's first two possessions leading the Tigers to a 35-7 victory over Kansas in the 119th renewal of college football's second-oldest rivalry.

De'Vion Moore scored two touchdowns for the Tigers are now 10-2/6-2 in the Big 12/11/10. Nebraska's victory over Colorado made it impossible for the Tigers to finish higher than second in the Big 12 North.

The Jayhawks, now 3-9/1-7, have now lost 16 of 19 after opening 2009 with five straight wins.

Lance Veeser is sitting at the adult table...

TWTW: Nebraska Solidifies Reputation Over Kansas

((HT: KOLN/KGIN-TV Lincoln, Grand Island))

Kansas is hot and cold to say the very least...

Sometimes, Turner Gill's teams can scare the ever-loving crap out of you... Sometimes, it's blowout city and you wonder if he's outclassed as a head coach in a big-boy conference.

And, yes, it's easy to say that what's left of the Big 12/11/10 may not be exactly "big-boy."

The HQ will give the Jayhawks credit for all of their defensive efforts against Nebraska- losing only 20-3.

Problem is you need to score points yourself to have a chance to win a game against the 2010 Nebraska team... Kansas, apparently, left their offense on the bus...

Kevin Sjuts anchors the coverage for 1011Now.com
So, sure you can look at it now...


Coach Pelini said after practice Monday that the fans were "dead" on Saturday, and that the atmosphere was disappointing. He said, "I felt like I was at a scrimmage."

Don't think that'll go over well at all...

TWTW: Kansas Gets Biggest Comeback Win Ever Against Colorado

((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City))

It was the greatest comeback in Kansas history... there's no other way to describe it- unless we're talking about the last game Dan Hawkins coaches at Colorado.

Evah...

James Sims scored four touchdowns in the last quarter-and-a-half, including the game-winner with 52 seconds left. Kansas scored 35 unanswered points in the final 11 minutes to beat Colorado 52-45. The 35 points were also the most Kansas has scored in a quarter in school history.

Colorado led 45-17 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Wouldn't you know the two worst teams in the Big 12/11/10 would do something like this...???

Here's your highlights with Lance Veeser indoors...

TWTW: Snyder's Manhattan Project Beats KU By 52

((HT: KWCH-TV Wichita))

The biggest questions here are:
Who in the hell was that team that showed up to play Kansas State last night...?
And, more importantly, did Mark Mangino really leave Turner Gill THIS bad a team...?
Or, has Gill already lost this team...?

Absolutely horrific football display... and Fox got to broadcast it

Bruce Haertl gets to spend a lot of time on the game...
 

Yikes!

Tech Wrecked In Lawrence By Jayhawks

Jordan Webb tossed three touchdown passes as Kansas upset 15th-ranked Georgia Tech, 28-25.

Webb, who earned his first career start versus the Yellow Jackets, gave Turner Gill collected his first victory as the head coach at Kansas.

The win, which snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Jayhawks, marked KU's first win over a ranked team since defeating 12th-ranked Missouri in the final regular-season game of the 2008 season. It was KU's first win at home over a ranked team since beating No. 23 Missouri on Sept. 27, 2003.

The HQ thinks practice on the Flats this week will be nothing short of hell...

Here's the very end of the game, shot form the stands as Kansas football fan(s) rush the field like they just won a basketball national title or something...
((HT: Youtube))


Here's reaction, thanks to our friends at WIBW-TV in Topeka and KAKE-TV in Wichita

Nebraska To Big 10 By End Of The Week? Coach Os Speaks, KU's Self/Gill Want NU To Stay,

Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald is reporting that an executive at the university expects Nebraska to become a member of the Big 10 conference Friday.

University of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman is expected the topic with the NU Board of Regents Friday. Click on the link below for the full article.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100608/NEWS01/100609687#nu-to-big-10-as-early-as-friday

Tuesday during his monthly appearance on the Husker Sports Network Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne said, “I think before too long — I don't know exactly what that time frame is — we'll be able to put this to bed, because I'm getting tired of it.''

Here's Tom Osbourne's comments from the Husker Sports Network

((HT: KOLN/KGIN Lincoln))




Meanwhile Kansas is begging and pleading Nebraska to stay in the Big 12. Kanas head men's basketball coach Bill Self adds his take.





Big 12 commissioner Don Beebe would like to have a commitment to 2016 from Nebraska and Missouri by Friday. That "line in the sand" might have some flexibility though.

Texas has been the object of the affections of the Big 10 and it appears the Pac-10 conference as well. The powers that be that bleed burnt orange would rather stay put though. Longhorn head football coach Mack Brown agrees.



Those of us at the OSG HQ tend to think this is a battle between the old school "Big Eight" schools and the Texas schools, who have become the power brokers in the Big 12. Specifically it's become a turf war between Nebraska and Texas. Though Tom Osbourne said Tuesday he has nothing against Texas or another other Big 12 school, Osbourne's and Nebraska influence toward conference matters decreased to the point of irrelevance. The Huskers were used to getting their way back in the day, not anymore. Therefore, it appears Nebraska is searching for a new home.

Gill Informs Players Of Move To KU

((HT: WDAF-TV/Fox 4))

Turner Gill met with U-Buffalo players Sunday morning, and informed them that he's leaving to coach at Kansas. UB AD Warde Manuel also attended the meeting and talked about replacing Gill.

Manuel has named Danny Barrett interim head coach while a national search process commences. Barrett has head coaching experience in the Canadian Football League, so the transition won't be too difficult a task.

OSG HQ, however, doesn't know the dynamic between Barrett and the players as opposed to Gill and the players. That'll be the only question mark...

“Today is a day that creates many mixed feelings,” said Manuel. “I am saddened to see Turner leave us as he has done an absolutely fantastic job of building our football program to unprecedented success upon a value system that we can all be proud of. That being said, I am extremely happy for Turner and his family that they have been granted this opportunity.”

“Moving forward I have every confidence that Danny Barrett will provide great leadership for our program while we search for our next head coach,” said Manuel. “We will begin a national search immediately to find the best person and football coach to keep us competing for championships on an annual basis while focusing on the efforts of our student-athletes in the classroom. Coach Barrett is a candidate for the position and is the only internal staff member that will be considered.”

Fox4KC's Bob Stepanich saw KU fans get their Christmas wish...
 

Kansas AD Lew Perkins says a presser will be held Monday afternoon...

Gill Staying at UB

Once again, the OSG knows when something is up...

Wasting no time and knowing that University of Buffalo Head Coach Turner Gill ((pictured, thanks Getty Images)) was next on everyone's hit list to fill a coaching vacancy, UB signed Gill to a contract extension through the year 2013. The pay raise he is receiving will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the Mid-American Conference.

The contract also has that lovely "roll-over" language we like to hear about so much.

"On the day I came here to be the head coach, I told my team that one day we would be successful here at the University at Buffalo," Gill said in a statement released by the school. "Now, more than ever, I have never been more proud to be the head coach of this program at this great academic institution. This program has proven it can win now and it is built to continue to win in the future. I am grateful to president John Simpson and athletic director Warde Manuel for their continued support and faith in me as a football coach and leader of young men."

WKBW-TV catches up with Turner Gill in black...

A Great Opportunity For Iowa State

OK Cyclone fans, let it go. Your football program deserves better than Gene Chizik. The Iowa State job is a tough one but one that can be overcome. You have a patient fan base who wants to win and an athletic director in Jamie Pollard that will give you a reasonable amount of time to get the job done.

Think of this as a great opportunity to bring a coach in that is committed and can calm an enraged fan base. Forget Gene Chizik, he's Auburn's coach now.

Now go after Turner Gill. He's a Big 12 North guy coming from Nebraska. Gill knows the territory and has the demeanor to endear himself to the Iowa State family. Most importantly he has proven to be a winner. What Gill has accomplished at the University of Buffalo is remarkable. In 1996, Gill took over a program that had won 7 conference games since joining the MAC in 1999. 2 years later the Bulls are MAC Champions and going to a bowl game.

Becoming the head football coach at Iowa State might be the perfect long term marriage for both Gill and the Cyclones.

If that doesn't work out let me throw another name at you. Bobby Houck at Montana. As a young TV sportscaster working in Flagstaff, Arizona I got to know Houck when he coached linebackers at Northern Arizona University. Our paths haven't crossed since however, Houck has build a solid resume.

In 6 seasons at his alma mater, Houck's Montana teams have won the Big Sky championship every year. This year Houck has led Montana to the Football Championship Subdivision national championship game against Richmond. It might be time for Houck to make the move to the big show of college football and Iowa State might be the right place.

Turner Gill Photo Courtesy: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Bobby Houck Photo Courtesy: Todd Goodrich and Tess McEnroe/Montana
Grizzlies.com

Auburn: Fish - ing For A New Coach But Hasn't Grabbed One By The Gills

The coaching search at Auburn is heating up. 5 potential candidates were interviewed last week but Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs wouldn't reveal who he interviewed. One is believed to be Ball State head coach Brady Hoke. Other candidates interviewed were 2 former Auburn players. Rodney Garner who is an assistant at Georgia and Patrick Nix, Miami's offensive coordinator.

The Birmingham News reported that Buffalo head coach Turner Gill was interviewed Monday. Gill is a very hot coaching commodity since turning around the Bulls from the bottom of FBS to a MAC championship this year.

Florida State head coach in waiting Jimbo Fisher's name keeps popping up. Monday Fisher was in Montgomery, Alabama as the keynote speaker of the Montgomery Quarterback Club. Fisher told the Montgomery Advertiser the he nor his agent Jimmy Sexton has been contacted by any Auburn representative. That doesn't mean Fisher wouldn't listen.

Fisher told the Montgomery Advertiser "You never say never. This business is a crazy business. You never say never in this business. I know this -- I'm very happy where I am."

According to an OSG source, Fisher is unlikely to be contacted because Auburn would have to buyout his contract at Florida State which would cost over $5 million. The university is already committed to writing some large checks to former head coach Tommy Tuberville.

That same source also indicated that Auburn will go the assistant route or the "hot" coach at a non-BCS school because it can't compete in the coaching arms race.

UPDATE: OSG Sources have also confirmed that Auburn representatives had a lengthy interview with University of Miami Offensive Coordinator Patrick Nix in Atlanta two days ago. Nix considered himself, according to those same sources, "humbled" by the opportunity to talk about the opening.

Where the Nix goes in the mix is just part of the pix...
We guess...

Turner Gill Photo Courtesy: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Jimbo Fisher Photo Courtesy: Montgomery Advertiser

UB Champs!!!

The University of Buffalo may be too good for its own good.

The Bulls took care of previously-unbeaten Ball State in the MAC Championship Game, 42-24. Brady Hoke's Cardinals turned the ball over five times and the Boys In Blue are heading to their first bowl game since 1958.

Once the Bulls take on, probably, one of those middle-of-the-road East squads ((at press time- looks like UConn)) they need to make sure Head Coach Turner Gill is well compensated for plenty of years to come.

Otherwise, Gill is headed to Syracuse.
Here's the fall-out from the upset of Ball State
((HT: WIVB-TV4 in Buffalo/Emma Orn))

Who Will Be The New Coach At Clemson

Should the Clemson Tigers defeat South Carolina this weekend than the Tigers would be bowl eligible. It would be another feather in the hat for Dabo Swinney, who took over in mid-season and is 3-2 since and with impressive road wins at Boston College and at Virginia

Swinney has taken full grasp of the offense getting the ball to Clemson's playmakers. C.J. Spiller and Aaron Kelly have benefited from that.

The success Dabo Swinney has had taking over has lead to a grass roots movement from Clemson fans in favor of Swinney to have the job. Many Tiger fans believe if athletic director Terry Don Phillips is considering hiring a coordinator than there is no reason why Swinney shouldn't be the guy.

Here's what we know. Phillips has had interviewed Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, University of Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and Lane Kiffin. OSG reported that Kiffin appears to be headed to Tennessee. It has also been reported that TCU head coach Gary Patterson interviewed yesterday for the job.

2 names I would also look to are Buffalo head coach Turner Gill and outgoing Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer. OSG has no confirmation that they are on the radar screen at Clemson but just playing a hunch. Gill has brought the Bulls from irrelevance to the MAC Championship Game after winning the Eastern Division. Fulmer still has the fire to coach and would seem to be a good fit at Clemson.

It is of OSG's opinion that Dabo Swinney is a virtual lock to get the job however, things might be interesting now that a formal interview with Patterson has taken place. Patterson is ready to make the leap to a BCS school and according to OSG sources, made it known that he was interested in the position. Patterson was up for the vacant Kansas State job but backed out when negotiations broke down.